The win was secured when Luis exchanged passes with Fernando Torres before slotting past Geronimo Rulli in the 28th minute - he had not scored in his first 35 appearances this season but has now netted in the last two games.

Atletico's victory moves Diego Simeone's men three points clear of fourth-placed Sevilla, and within seven points of leaders Real Madrid.

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Elsewhere Villarreal went above Real Sociedad and into fifth after a 1-0 win at Real Betis - Adrian, on his first start since February, struck two minutes into the second half as Villarreal ended a two-game losing run.

Athletic Bilbao also moved above Basque rivals Sociedad, who dropped to seventh. Aritz Aduriz bagged a first-half brace as Athletic beat Espanyol 2-0 for their fourth win in five games.

Aduriz dinked in a 17th-minute penalty after Victor Sanchez brought down Iker Muniain and then turned in Benat's right-wing free-kick eight minutes before the break.

The Spain striker was denied a hat-trick in the closing stages when his close-range effort was deflected on to the crossbar by Espanyol goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Villarreal went above Real Sociedad into fifth after a 1-0 win at Real Betis with an Adrian goal